I am in the process of buying a 5'8" Mason and Hamlin Ampico grand
and I have a definite key problem.  Hopefully, someone will have some
experiences and suggestions on this one.

The piano was restored in the 1970's or 80's but the key tops were
replaced with keys that actually fit like dental caps over a tooth.
To do this the wood was routed to fit the key tops.  The keys look much
like what you would find on a modern electronic keyboard.  When they go
down, the sides are white instead of wood showing, as it would have
originally.  They just do not look right on this piano.

A local piano shop has corrected this on other pianos which had the
same fate but it will be expensive and the tops will still be that
heavy cheap looking plastic.  I will probably be forced to have them
correct the wood removal issues but has anyone ever completely replaced
an ivory keyboard with salvage from other pianos?  A new ivory keyboard
is out of the question financially.  I just do not want that heavy
cheap looking white plastic and I doubt that anyone has an another
action floating around from a Mason that could supply replacement keys.

This piano really has the potential for being a really nice instrument.

Randy Hammond